Valve’s newest VR controllers — Knuckles — are fully-tracked motion controllers with a new design and a few neat tricks. Here’s everything you need to know about them.
Valve’s newest controllers are taking things in an interesting direction; they are immediately familiar but have quite a few new features and a new way to attach to your hands. If you’re wondering what they’re all about, we have everything you need to know.
What we have for you
Here are quick links to the subjects covered in the article, in case you want to skip ahead!
– News and Updates
– What are Valve Knuckles controllers?
– How do I get Valve Knuckles controllers?
– How do Knuckles controllers attach to your hand?
– Is it easy to remove the controllers?
– How do Knuckles controllers track motion?
– How do you calibrate finger tracking on Knuckles controllers?
– How many buttons do Knuckles controllers have?
– Do Knuckles controllers work with existing hardware and software?
– How do you pair Knuckles controllers with SteamVR?
– How long do the batteries last in Knuckles controllers?
– What do the lights on Knuckles controllers mean?
– Are Knuckles controllers ambidextrous?
– How well do Knuckles controllers adapt to different hand sizes?
– What comes in the box with Knuckles controllers?
Latest News on Valve’s Knuckles Controllers
August 2018: Mediocre battery life
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Today Lawrence, who’s running the SteamVR Knuckles Driver Guide on Steam, informed the world that the Knuckles have been released in its EV2 form.
These updates include improved industrial design and ergonomics, updated input set and layout, improved strap fit and feel for more hand sizes, new sensors, enabling new interactions, improved battery life, USB-C charging port, and added support for SteamVR Tracking 2.0. We’ve updated this entire article to reflect the information on these changes, as well as show you all the shiny new images and videos available to reflect the new Knuckles controllers.
January 2018: Knuckle Controllers are not being released with the Vive Pro
“That’s a Valve question,” HTC says when asked about when the release of the longanticipated Knuckle Controllers. Looks like Valve is letting us down in regards to the release date, and continuing to go radio silent in regards to it. So instead of the shiny new Vive Pro launching with the Knuckles, as we all hoped they’d do, instead they’re releasing with an updated Wand Controller that will be compatible with Steam Tracking 2.
I see one of two things happening. Either A we’ll have to wait for another headset update for the Knuckles to come out, which is aggravating given how long we have already been waiting. Or B, they’re going to be sold separately (if we ever get a release date).
December 2017: Firmware Updates, Are we getting closer to a release date?
As of November 10, 2017, The SteamVR Knuckles Firmware has received an update regarding a range of things. The Finger Tracking, as well as the twitch and backlash users, were experiencing have been corrected with a wider range of motion. Users with smaller hands had complaints of their pinkies not registering when using the device, a patch has been included where the pinky will follow the ring finger should the pinky not be detected instead of remaining stiff. On top of this, they are testing an experimental auto-calibration that begins as soon as you power on the controllers and continues on even as you’re playing.
Some of the bugs users were experiencing, such as needing to reset the entire controller when unplugging from a USB, have also been addressed. Now a reset will not be required when unplugging the device, and plugging in the device will not auto-power on the controllers. A nifty feature they have included in regards to charging is now the LED will blink different colors for battery levels ranging from Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green!
Now, on the topic of a release date. Testing developers have said that outside replacing damaged Knuckles and releasing the Firmware update that Valve has been radio silent. Therefore there are no updates on how far in progress they are, or when their estimated release dates are. Most are guessing we should see them released before Winter of 2018, but we’ll see!
What are Valve Knuckles controllers?
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A first glimpse of the Knuckles prototype was seen at Steam Dev Days 2016. One of the major areas of focus was the fact that you could let go of the controller without it dropping to the floor or to hang by the safety cord. Also included with the design was finger tracking, something Oculus Touch controllers have had from the start.
Since the first look, Valve has been hard at work refining the design, and now it appears they’re getting serious about their product. Developer kits have been sent out, and a Steam Community Knuckles group has been created.
Now, in June of 2017, the second release of the Knuckle controllers has been released to developers. While they still aren’t controllers consumers can buy just yet there are quite a few major updates that have us all super stoked for their release. Read on below for more information!
How do I get Valve Knuckles controllers?
Only some select developers hand-picked by Valve have been lucky enough to receive the Knuckles controllers. The rest of us will have to wait until further notice. There has been speculation that they are going to potentially be released next year, as the refining of the feedback from the developers will take some time.
How do Knuckles controllers attach to your hand?
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Removing the controllers is just as easy as putting them on. All you have to do is use your other hand to squeeze the bottom at the bottom of the controller. This will release the strap that is holding your hand into place to make it easier to remove. For the amount of security, they give I’m surprised the process of putting them on and taking them off isn’t complicated. This is definitely an added bonus.
How do Knuckles controllers track motion?
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The part of the Knuckles controller that sits in your hand is actually quite similar to the Vive’s original wands. You have a large trackpad for your thumb, a couple of face buttons on either side and a system button below. Each controller also has a trigger on the back. If you think the Vive wands are a bit big and clunky, the Knuckles controllers are quite a bit smaller and fit much more naturally into your hand and have a wide variety of functions to better your immersion in the game.
– Analog: Detect a ramp of pressure from a light touch to a hard squeeze
– Digital: Both the Grip and the Track Button can behave as a digital input. Simply choose a force threshold for activation and fire a haptic to mimic the behavior of a mechanical button
– Multistep: Combination of the above
– Disabled: if your content does not need this functionality, this sensor can, of course, be ignored.
Do Knuckles controllers work with existing hardware and software?
As an extension of the core HTC Vive hardware, the Knuckle controllers will work with all existing hardware. Like the original wands, Knuckle controllers are compatible with any revision of the HTC Vive headset and use the same base stations for tracking.
Previously-developed software will also be usable with the new controllers. Valve is set to offer a feature that emulates the wand controllers, by mapping similar buttons onto the new hardware.
How do you pair Knuckles controllers with SteamVR?
If you have your hands on a pair of these new controllers, all you have to do to pair them is run through the normal Pair Controller setup in the Devices menu of SteamVR. Note that you must opt into the SteamVR beta in order for Knuckles controllers to pair properly. As of June 2018, they have even received better input for SteamVR. Devs should be updating all of their content to support new SteamVR Input system as we speak!
How long do the batteries last in Knuckles controllers?
The battery life has been extended to support up to 6 hours of gameplay now. Even better, it only takes about an hour and a half to charge each controller to full. This means you’ll have plenty of game time for your favorite VR experiences and just enough time for a lunch break while they’re charging before you can play again!
What do the lights on Knuckles controllers mean?
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A small LED makes an appearance on each controller to help you determine its state. The Vive’s wands also have a LED, but here some of the colors signify different states.
Are Knuckles controllers ambidextrous?
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Like the original Vive wands, the Knuckles controllers have the same buttons on each device. Whereas you could pick up either Vive wand for your right hand, the Knuckles controllers, because of their strap, will need to be placed on a specific hand. From there on out, you’ll be able to use either for your dominant hand.
How well do Knuckles controllers adapt to different hand sizes?
As explained by VR developer Cloudhead Games, the existing Knuckle controller prototypes account for differing hand sizes. While there is always a chance that your friend with bare hands may find the controller tight and child-sized hands may struggle to reach the top of the trackpad, the fit should account for most players. All of the new updates are accounting for size in width and length. The added strap should definitely make a difference when you’re looking for the right size for you.
What comes in the box with Knuckles controllers?
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Source: Windows Central